The Hindu Business Line : Bengal tea workers to get higher bonus

Kolkata, Sept. 17 Nearly 2,00,000 tea garden workers employed in 162 tea gardens in the Dooars and Terai regions in the northern part of West Bengal will get higher bonus for 2006-07. This follows the industry-level bonus agreement signed here on Saturday between the various associations of tea garden owners and workers.

More than 90 per cent of the total number of established gardens in Dooars and Terai regions (except the small growers) will come under the purview of the agreement. Unlike previous years when the negotiations were protracted, this time the discussion concluded and agreement signed after the first round, observe tea industry sources.

Bonus rate

According to the agreement, the Group A gardens, numbering 74, will pay at the rate of 11.9 per cent for 2006-07 against 11.25 per cent paid in 2005-06. Similarly, Group B gardens, numbering 37, will pay at 10.5 per cent (10 per cent) and Group C gardens, 31, at 9.5 per cent (9.15 per cent). The rate for Group D gardens, 13, remains unchanged at 8.5 per cent.

Seven other tea estates, not belonging to any of these groups, will pay at the following rates: Gurjanjhora 10.5 per cent, Sarugaon 9.5 per cent, Aryaman 10.5 per cent, Jogesh Chandra 8.5 per cent, Looksun 8.5 per cent, Malnuddy 9.5 per cent and Srinathpur 8.4 per cent.

The ceiling and sub-ceiling of wages for payment of bonus has been raised to Rs 7,000 from the previous Rs 6,500. Also, the bonus has been calculated on the basis of the minimum wage of Rs 50.90 per worker per day against Rs 48.80 previously.

The payment will be completed by September 30.

The bonus issue for Darjeeling gardens will be discussed and settled separately, the sources add.